Filter



F'. L. LEG US Sept. 15, 1953 FILTER 2 Sheetsl-Sheet l Filed Sept. 25, 1950 im IN lxvlm INI allvaaaz/alaa (Ittorneg vSept. l5, 1953 P. L. Ll-:Gus 2,652,151

FILTER Filed Sept. 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor ,0m/L 560.5

I @JMJ (Ittorneg Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to lters and has reference more particularly to lters for sh aquariums and the like wherein means is provided for removing sediment and impurities from the Water.

It is the usual practice to provide some means for maintaining the water in sh aquariums in clean and relatively pure condition, and there are many types of filters or other devices to accomplish this objective. The filter which embodies my invention is designed primarily for use on the smaller, home aquarium tanks with a water capacity up to approximately forty gallons.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a novel filter to be used in conjunction with sh aquariums and the like, which provides for a unique and improved method of circulating the water through the filtering means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a Water filter in which the impurities removed from the circulating and filtered water are caused to be deposited in the bottom of the filtering device.

-A further object of my invention is to provide a water filtering means which is simple in construction, easy to clean and relatively inexpensive to build.

Another object of my invention is to provide a filtering means which is capable of handling a substantially greater volume of circulating water through a relatively small lter unit.

yStill another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the ltering substance can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement.

-Other objects of my invention reside in the details of construction, combination of parts and manner of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these `and other objects of my invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a perspective view of the filtering device which embodies my invention, with a portion thereof broken away for better illustration of its construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is 'a cross section of the device taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my filtering device illustrating an alternative form of construction.

Fig. 5 is anenlarged view of the plate which forms a part of the device illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the removable ZIO-124) container which may be used in the unit shown in Fig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- My lter device may vary in size and shape as desired or required to best adapt its use with a particular aquarium. In Fig. l I have illustrated a rectangular box-like unit and in Fig. 4, I have illustrated a taller and narrower unit. For purposes of description and explanation, common parts in these two forms of the device, will be identied by the same reference numerals.

The complete units as shown in Figs. l and i are designated in their entirety by reference numerals I and l0a respectively. Each comprises a rectangular container Il, which is divided into sections or compartments l2, i3 and ld respectively. Also, leach is provided with a securing means or bracket l5 for mounting the iiltering unit on the side of the aquarium.

`The material from which the units are constructed may vary as desired or required without departing from the teaching of my invention. It is preferred, however, that the container and all parts which comprise the complete unit be made from transparent plastic, such as Plexiglas, since this material is easy to work, is less expensive than other suitable materials `and produces what is believed to be a most attractive finished product.

The lter unit illustrated in Fig. 1 is formed in two parts, namely, a rectangular container H and a somewhat smaller insert I6 removably applied thereto. The container comprises opposite side walls |Iaf-l la, opposite end walls llb-l Ib and a bottom I Ic all of which are joined together to form a water tight, box-like receptacle. The side walls IIa- I la, are formed with a vertically recessed inner surfaces thereby reducing the thickness thereof, as at il. These recesses terminate above the bottom llc, thus providing a ledge I8 on which the insert I6 may be disposed.

The length and height of the insert it is approximately three-quarters that of the container I l and the width of the insert is substantially the same as the inside ywidth of the container between the recessed portions of the side walls. The insert comprises opposite side walls Ita-Ita, opposite end walls 16h-4Gb a bottom itc and a partitioning wall ltd which extends between the side walls and is parallel to the end. walls. These several parts are joined to form a box-like receptacle. v

As is illustrated in Fig. 2, the partitioning wall IBd of the insert It is located somewhat near one end wall, thereby dividing the insert into two compartments, I3 and I4. `Compartment I3 is approximately twice as large las compartment I4. Formed through the bottom portion of the compartment I3 are a plurality of apertures 21. `Similar apertures 28 are provided in the partition wall I6d in the upper half thereof.

The securing bracket I may be of any desired or required type. I have illustrated a bracket of substantially an inverted U shape, secured to the exterior surface and along the top edge of one side wall of the container II which will permit hanging the unit on the side of the aquarium tank.

The filter device Illa illustrated in Fig. 4, is somewhat similar in its appearancev and mode of use, to the device of Fig. 1, however, there are several str-uctural modiiications therein which will now be described: In lieu of the removable insert unit I6, the container has stationary walls 39 and 3l provided and secured therein to the opposite side walls. These walls are vertical and extend downwardly from the top of the oontainer about three quarters of its depth. Between the wall 3l and the adjacent end wall, is a compartment I3 that is closed at its lower end with a bottom wall 33. On the opposing surfaces of the walls 30 and 3l, near the bottom thereof are horizontally directed flanges and 36 which are provided to receive and support the plate 4B or removable container 4I of Fig. 6 thereon.

The plate is 0f such size as to provide a close fit when horizontally disposed on the flanges and is formed with a plurality of holes 42 therethrough, the purpose of which will presently be described. Alternately, the container 4I is adapted to be disposed between the walls 3D and 3i and rest on the anges 35 and 36. It comprises four vertical walls 4Ia, 4Ib, 4Ic and 4Id and an integral bottom plate 4Ie. The bottom plate is formed with a plurality of holes 43 therethrough and all parts are bonded together.

Formed in the wall 3I near the top thereof are a group of holes 44 which holes are aligned with a similar group of holes 45 in the wall 4Id when the container 4I is inserted between the walls 3D and 3I.

The various filter units described are used and function in substantially the same manner. A ltering substance 48, such as charcoal, is deposited in the compartment I3 of the device of Fig. 1, or on the plate 40 of the device of Fig. 4, or within the container 4I whenl it is used in the device of Fig. 4. Hoses and 5I provide the inlet and outlet respectively to the aquarium tank. The water is caused to be circulated by i means of a small pump (not shown) having its inlet and outlet connected, respectively to hose 50 and hose 5I, providing continuous circulation and filtering or purifying of the circulated water.

It is the common practise in devices heretofore used for this purpose, to have the water flowing from the tank direct to and on top of the filtering medium. In my filter device, the inowing water is delivered to compartment I2 of the container II and from there passes through the holes which separate it from the other compartments. Thus, when the water rises in the container of Fig. 1, it passes up through the holes 21 and seeps upwardly through the charcoal or other water purifying medium. When the water rises to the height of the holes 28, it will flow into the discharge compartment I4 from 4 which it is pumped back to the aquarium tank.

In the device of Fig. 4 the water rising in the container passes upwardly through holes 43 in the plate and seeps up through the ltering medium then through holes 44 to the outer compartment and is pumped back to the aquarium tank. A similar operation takes place when the container 4I is used.

This circulating system has several important or significant advantages. The main advantages being that the dirt or sediment is not delivered direct to the filter thereby clogging the circulation. Rather the water seeps up through the lter medium allowing the sediment to drop to the bottom of the container. This permits the use of a smaller lter with a larger tank and it provides for greater circulation and less often removal and cleaning. Also, an advantage of my device is that the filtered water is contained within a separate compartment, removed from the filtering means and the inflowing, unpuried water.

It is to be understood that the principal of my compartmented ltering unit may be employed in several ways without departing from the teaching and basis of my invention wherein the novelty resides in causing the water to be filtered upwardly through the ltering medium rather than being delivered directly thereonto and filtered in its downward flow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desiie to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A compartmented aquarium filter of the character described comprising a plastic container and a plastic insert unit removably disposed therein; said container forming a water receiving compartment and said insert lunit being divided into two parts and forming a water filtering compartment and a discharge compartment; the ltering compartment being adapted to receive a filtering medium therein and a passage through the bottom thereof whereby water rising in the receiving compartment fiows upwardly into said filtering compartment and through the filtering medium, said filtering compartment having a passage in the upper portion of the side wall between the discharge compartment through which filtered water will flow into the discharge compartment subsequent to rising through the filtering medium; the side walls of the container being formed with vertically recessed inner surfaces terminating above the bottom of the container and forming a horizontal ledge on which the insert unit is removably disposed.

PAUL L. LEGUS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,262 Land July 12, 1881 1,152,399 Cronenberger Sept. 7, 1915 1,743,524 Cabrera Jan. 14, 1930 1,743,525 Cabrera Jan. 14, 1930 1,776,883 Cabrera Sept. 30, 1930 2,275,428 Haldeman Mar. 10, 1942 2,359,985 Gordon Oct. 10, 1944 2,486,389 Clark Nov. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,834 Great Britain 1890 11,200 Great Britain 189.7 

